Wrinkles

It is hard to talk about wrinkles…but it is on everyone’s mind regardless of how old they are. It’s on my mind. It’s on my children’s minds, those under 30 and those over 30.

As you age, your body naturally produces less collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that make your skin firm and supple. The fat underneath your skin also begins to disappear (unless you are overweight). The result, especially on your face…it starts to sag and wrinkle. It  has been said that “your genes, in general, determines when this occurs and how fast it progresses.” I am not so sure about that. Other things such as smoking, too much sun, illness, etc. can speed up the process.

Since your skin is the largest organ of your body, it is a huge target for free radicals – unstable molecules which form as you process oxygen. These free radicals travel throughout the body, damaging cells and causing all sorts of havoc – one being wrinkles. You can’t help producing free radicals, but you can help neutralize them. HOW? Read on.

• Eat smarter. Certain foods can actually protect your face from wrinkles. Dr. Mark L. Wahlqvist of Monash University in Melbourne, found that foods containing powerful antioxidants can fight wrinkles. The list includes eggs, spinach, asparagus, celery, garlic, onions, nuts, lima beans, olives cherries, grapes, melons, prunes, apples, pears, water, etc. FOODS TO AVOID include: milk, margarine, red meat, soft drinks, butter, ice cream, potatoes, cakes, pastries, etc.
• Worry less about your wrinkles. Doctors in England say that “if you have wrinkles, you might actually be protected from skin cancer.” They go on to say that, ” ultraviolet rays from the sun destroy the elastic collagen fibers in all types of skin.If you are wrinkled, that means your skin type repairs itself doesn’t replace the collagen. If you have smooth skin, on the other hand, your skin is replacing the damaged collagen.” He further states, that a weakened immune system has trouble fighting off the factors that cause cancer, especially skin cancer.

Today there are many products on the market for use in targeting wrinkled skin. I have tried most of them from collagen creams to sirums of all kinds. My conclusion on these is that if you are young when you start using them, they might slow down the wrinkling, but if you are in your senior years, they do little to remove or even subdue the wrinkles you already have. I do find, however, that when I get a good night’s sleep my face looks less wrinkled in the morning. As the day goes on, and I get tired the wrinkles seem to look as big as caves on my face. I was so concerned about my wrinkles that I asked my doctor what I could do to alleviate the problem. His answer – “wear them as a badge of honor.” He stated that short of plastic surgery, they will never go away. He did not suggest I do plastic surgery, because once you start that routine, you have keep doing it, and keep doing it, and pretty soon you don’t even recognize yourself. Also, many things can go wrong in the process.

In summary, unfortunately, you can’t control the type of skin you have. So it is important to start young in taking steps to protect your skin from not only the sun but, all the other things that can hasten wrinkles. If you must be out in the sun – use a heavy duty sunscreen. I have seen them advertised with a protection factor as high as 103.

Good old fashion Folk remedies suggest you zap your wrinkles with a homemade, scented moisturizer. Choose an essential oil, such as lavender, lilac, or rose, from the health food store. Pick up an atomizer and then follow these directions. (1) Fill the atomizer with 1 cup water. I suggest purified or distilled water. (2) Add 2 or 3 drops of an essential oil. (3) Refrigerate the solution overnight. (4) Simply spray on your skin, then blot your skin with a tissue. I don’t blot. I want the mixture to be absorbed into my skin.

MAY YOUR DAY BE SUNNY AND BRIGHT AND WRINKLELESS!